MAINE Travel Resources Birding Maine TRAIL

THE MAINE BEACHESmap a20219511119Biddeford35Sanford99 uth1Miles of sand beaches, salt marshes, and tidal estuaries attract more than 30species of shorebirds annually. Scattered headlands provide good scanningfor seabirds. Deciduous forest and fields of the interior are breeding habitatfor many species at their northern range limit.Map A1.THE MAINE BEACHESFort FosterFort Foster in Kittery sits on Gerrish Island overlookinga large expanse of ocean and tidal river. This is a goodmigrant trap in spring and fall, and a winter place to lookfor alcids, sea ducks, and Purple Sandpipers. This is thesite of a fort that protected the Portsmouth Naval Shipyardthrough both World Wars. The park gate is closed from latefall to late spring, but birders may park at the gate andwalk in during the off-season. May be icy in winter.directions:From Route 1 in Kittery, follow 103 east 3.5 miles. Turn right onto ChaunceyCreek Road, follow 0.5 miles, turn right onto Pocahontas Road. Cross theGerrish Island Bridge, turn right, and follow Pocahontas Road 1.2 miles.A fee is charged in summer.MAMJJASND J F O 2.M t. Agament i cu sM a rgin a l W a yMarginal Way in Ogunquit is a narrow, paved, mile-longfootpath that hugs the rocky shoreline. It is extraordinaryany time of year. In winter, Harlequin Ducks and PurpleSandpipers can be plentiful and all of the sea ducks arepossible. The path is lined with low shrubs, making itideal for sparrows, mockingbirds, and cardinals any timeof year and migrating passerines in spring and fall. May beicy in winter.directions:From Route 1 in Cape Neddick, follow Route 1A south 0.9 miles. Turn left on ShoreRoad in Ogunquit and proceed 4.6 miles to a hard right turn onto Perkins Cove Road.From Route 1 in Ogunquit, follow Shore Road 0.8 miles south to the entrance toPerkins Cove Road on the left.MAMJJASND J F O 4.W ells Na t ion a l E s t u a rin eRes ea rc h Res erv eMt. Agamenticus in York is one of Maine’s besthawk‑watching sites in September. Hawks are bestseen on southerly breezes in the spring and northwestbreezes in autumn. In breeding season, the surroundingwoodland trails are good for songbirds.Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at LaudholmFarm can be exceptional year-round. A trail systemprovides 7 miles of hiking that meander through adiverse set of habitats. Eastern Towhees and BrownThrashers flourish around the fields. Piping Plovers andLeast Terns nest on the beach. On the northern end ofthe beach, a natural jetty draws roosting terns and gulls.directions:directions:From Route 1, turn south onto Clay Hill Road. Drive 3.9 miles, bearing rightat a T intersection, and continue another 1.6 miles. Drive 0.6 miles to thesummit or park below and walk the trails or road.From Route 1, turn onto Laudholm Farms Road. Follow the (small) signsa half mile to the entrance. JFor more information on The Maine Beaches MAMJJASND J F O 5.K en n eb u n k Pla i n s Wi l d l i f eM a n a gem en t A re aKennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area protects asand plain ecotype that is home to unusual grassland speciesseldom encountered elsewhere in the state, includingGrasshopper and Vesper Sparrows, Upland Sandpipers,Prairie Warblers, Eastern Towhees, and Brown Thrashers.Important: stay on dirt trails.directions:From Route 1, turn west on Route 9A (High Street), then in 0.3 miles turn rightonto Route 99. Follow for 4.2 miles and look for the parking areas on bothsides of the road.MAMJJASND J F O 6.Biddeford PoolBiddeford Pool is another of Maine’s exceptionalyear‑round hot spots. The mile-long tidal pool is viewablefrom a distance for ducks, waders, and shorebirds. EastPoint Sanctuary is a small Maine Audubon propertywith paths that wander cliffside over 30 acres. Scan forRough-legged Hawks and Snowy Owls on offshore islandsin winter. Limited parking is available at the entrancegate. The rocky surf zone along Ocean Avenue is goodfor sea ducks, and shorebirds may roost on the rocks inseason. The beach area is also good for shorebirds and theexpansive bay is promising for sea ducks.directions:From Route 9, turn onto Route 208 and follow 1.8 miles to an intersection at thesouthwest corner of the pool. (Turn right for the southern half of Fortunes RocksBeach.) Turn left and follow to Hattie’s Deli on the left. Then continue ahead, bearingright onto Main Street, and following to East Point. Turn right again onto OceanAvenue and follow it around South Point to return to Main Street.MAMJJASND J F O 34

GREATER PORTLANDAND CASCO BAYmap bPownal17Brunswick18FreeporturnpikeMaine TWindham3024202Yarmouth295889516Westbrook15 uth12CapeElizabethScarborough77797.GREATER PORTLAND AND CASCO BAYScarborou gh M arshScarborough Marsh encompasses over 3,000 acres ofestuarine saltmarsh, 15 percent of the state’s total.It produces the most abundant and diverse flocks ofwaterfowl and wading birds in migration, some of whichbreed here. The range of Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sharptailed Sparrows overlaps and interbreeding occurs. GlossyIbises, Great Blue Herons, and Snowy Egrets are common.Little Blue Herons are regular and Great Egrets, Tricolored Herons, and Black-crowned Night-Herons areuncommon. In winter, Rough-legged Hawks turn upregularly and Snowy Owls are rare. The seasonal MaineAudubon Nature Center midway along Pine Point Roadcan provide trail maps, birding tips, canoe rentals, anda bird-sighting register. In season there are regularlyscheduled nature walks. The Eastern Trail walk/bike pathis the preferred place to see both sharp-tailed sparrows.directions:108Straddling the boundary between the beach-and-marsh coast of the south andthe rocky bay-indented coast of the north, this region is home to the state’s mostdiverse coastal birdlife. Urban parks are often magnets for migrant songbirds.For more information on Greater Portland and Casco Bay visit:www.visitportland.com5Map BRoute 1 through Scarborough passes through the north edge of Scarborough Marsh.Drive south along Route 1 from Portland, cross the marsh, and turn left onto PinePoint Road (Route 9) at Dunstan Landing. Proceed to the Maine Audubon NatureCenter parking lot to begin the adventure. From Saco, drive north on Route 1. PinePoint Road will be a right turn at Dunstan Landing.MAMJJASND J F O 8.Pi ne Poi ntPine Point is where the outflow of several streams mixwith the incoming tide at the mouth of ScarboroughMarsh, concentrating a rich food source. From latesummer through autumn, check the large flocks ofBonaparte’s Gulls for vagrant Common Black-headedGulls and Little Gulls. Semipalmated Sandpipers andPlovers are plentiful in late summer, to be replaced byDunlins later in autumn. In the height of shorebirdseason, stay alert for White-rumped, Pectoral, Stilt, andBaird’s Sandpipers, and Hudsonian Godwits. Checkthe oceanside beach at Pine Point. From fall throughspring, the waters usually contain scoters, eiders, grebes,and loons. The jetty on the far north end of the beachis attractive to terns, and this is a good mainland site tolook for Roseate Terns in summer.check for Northern Gannets, Great, Sooty, and ManxShearwaters, and migrating Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers.In winter, Purple Sandpipers are possible. Nearby TwoLights State Park has a better view to the southeast, andits brushy habitat and mature conifer thickets make forgood migrant trapping in spring. May be icy in winter.directions:directions:From Route 1 in Scarborough and Scarborough Marsh, continue along Pine PointRoad (Route 9) until it bends abruptly right toward Old Orchard Beach. Instead, turnleft and follow to the town landing. There are two lefts—the first is East Grand; thesecond is King Street. Both end at the town landing.From north or south, take Route 77 to Two Lights Road and follow to the end. Fromthe north, Two Lights Road is about 5.4 miles from the bridge in Portland. From thesouth, it’s 5.5 miles from the intersections of Routes 207 and 77 in Scarborough. JF9.MAMJJASONDK et t le C ov eKettle Cove at the far eastern end of Crescent BeachState Park offers good winter views of beaches andwaters. Look for loons, eiders, grebes, goldeneyes, andscoters. Mallards and American Black Ducks probe theshallows. Brant favor this spot in late winter. The spitcan attract Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, and LaplandLongspurs in winter.MAMJJASND J F O 11.Fu ller Fa rmFuller Farm is a 220-acre tract, which encompasses about70 acres of grassland and hay fields—ideal for SavannahSparrows, Bobolinks, and Eastern Meadowlarks. At least 21species of warbler and 13 sparrows have been documented.Possibilities include Eastern Towhees, Indigo Buntings,Field Sparrows, and Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos.directions:Kettle Cove is just 0.2 miles south of the entrance to Two Lights State Park or0.8 miles north of Crescent Beach State Park. Look for the turn onto Ocean HouseRoad and follow the sign to “Kettle Cove Area.”From Exit 42 off the Maine Turnpike (I-95): at the first light, go left onto PayneRoad, and left at the next light onto Holmes Road. Continue to the second intersectionmarked by a blinking light and turn right on Broadturn Road. Go approximately 1 mileto the farm’s parking area on the right. Look for the kiosk in the parking area next to alarge field. From Scarborough Marsh, Broadturn Road is directly across from Pine PointRoad (Route 9) at Dunstan Corner. Fuller Farm is 4.1 miles northwest of Route 1.MAMJJASND J F O MAMJJASND J F O directions:10.Dyer Poin tDyer Point is a rocky promontory that pokes well intothe Atlantic, and every Maine alcid is possible in fall andwinter. Expect scoters, eiders, Buffleheads, Long-tailedDucks, Black Guillemots, Horned Grebes, and GreatCormorants. Check the loons for a possible Red-throatedLoon or even a vagrant Pacific Loon. In late summer,6

12.H i n c kl e y P ar kHinckley Park in residential South Portland is 40 acres ofvaried habitat. Expect a good variety of warblers in breedingseason, including occasional Blue-winged Warblers. Checkfor Rough-winged Swallows over the ponds.directions:From downtown Portland, take the bridge to South Portland along Route 77. Aftercrossing the bridge, continue for 0.8 miles along Route 77 (turn right on OceanStreet), and then turn right onto Highland Avenue. Follow for 0.3 miles and lookfor the park entrance on the left. From I-295, drive south toward South Portland,crossing the Fore River to Exit 4. Follow the signs to Route 1 (Main Street) in SouthPortland. Proceed south on Route 1 (Main Street) and turn left onto Broadway.Follow Broadway 2.3 miles to Route 77 (Ocean Street). Turn right onto OceanStreet, and follow 0.2 miles to the right turn onto Highland Avenue.14.E vergreen CemeteryEvergreen Cemetery is Maine’s premier site for warblerfallouts in May. Maine Audubon leads daily walks at 7amin mid-May with some of the state’s leading experts.Check the schedule at www.maineaudubon.org. The bestarea is around the ponds at the back of the cemetery andon the footpaths associated with them.directions:From I-295, take Forest Avenue north at Exit 6. Continue north about a mile toa five-street intersection. Make a gentle left turn onto Woodford Street in front ofthe Dunkin’ Donuts and follow to Stevens Avenue. Turn right onto Stevens, go pastDeering High School, and look for the Evergreen Cemetery in about half a mile. Enterthrough the cemetery’s second gate and proceed to the ponds at the back of the cemetery. JFMAMJJASONDMAMJJASND J F O 13.E as t e r n P r o m e n adeEastern Promenade, at the northeast end of Portland,extends into Casco Bay. Scan for common sea ducks,gulls, and perhaps an eagle. Song Sparrows overwinterin the brush along this path and other specialties suchas Orange-crowned Warblers turn up in late autumn.directions:Washington Avenue intersects Eastern Promenade at its westernmost point.Follow around to Cutter Street and descend to the parking and boat launch area.MAMJJASND J F O 15.Capi si c Pond ParkCapisic Pond Park contains Portland’s largest freshwaterpond and many flowering trees. This 18-acre park borderson the Fore River, improving its attractiveness to songbirds,particularly Orchard Orioles. Soras and Virginia Railsbreed in the cattails. It’s a good place to look for migratingsparrows in spring and fall, and for fruit-loving birdsin winter. Often done in combination with EvergreenCemetery, which is only five minutes away.directions:From I-295 in Portland, exit west onto Congress Street at Exit 5 (5A from the south,5B from the north). Follow Congress Street for less than half a mile, and then turnright onto Stevens Avenue, which is Route 9 East. In 0.2 miles, turn left at the lightonto Frost/Capisic Street. Follow Capisic straight ahead, looking for Macy Street onthe right. A small parking lot is available in front of the Capisic Pond Park sign. FromEvergreen Cemetery, turn right onto Stevens Avenue and follow 1.2 miles to the rightturn onto Frost/Capisic Street. Follow as above.16.Maine Audubon’s Gilsland FarmMaine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth is a 65-acresanctuary open during daylight hours. Feeders aroundthe center attract finches, sparrows, and a variety of otherseedeaters. Tree and Barn Swallows nest on site; Bobolinksand Eastern Meadowlarks populate the meadows. The WestMeadow Trail meanders through a forested wetland beforecircling the meadow. Two blinds overlook the PresumpscotRiver estuary. The Pond Meadow Trail leads to a pondwhere wading birds keep company with muskrats. TheNorth Meadow Trail also passes through a grove of maturered oaks and hemlocks before entering the meadow.directions:From the north: take I-295 to Exit 10 and then left on Bucknam Road. At the lightturn right onto Route 1 and continue south for one mile. After the blinking light at theintersection of Routes 1 and 88, the entrance to Gilsland Farm Road is on the right atthe light blue sign. From the south: take I-295 to Exit 9. Continue 1.9 miles northon Route 1 and turn left onto Gilsland Farm Road at the light blue sign, immediatelybefore the intersection of Routes 1 and 88.18.Florida Lake Conservationand Recreation AreaFlorida Lake Conservation and Recreation Area protects 167acres and a small lake. Several trails wind through differinghabitats, producing a good variety of songbirds. The lakeattracts waterfowl and wading birds in migration.directions:From I-295, take Freeport Exit 22 and head west off the highway. Florida Lakeis 3.1 miles from the I-295 exit. From the exit, turn right onto Route 136/125, andcontinue to follow Route 125 when it diverges from 136 a half-mile later. After about1.5 miles, look for the Florida Lake sign on the right. The access road runs behind somesmall homes to reach the parking lot 500 feet into the property.MAMJJASND J F O MAMJJASND J F O 17.Bradbury Mountain State ParkBradbury Mountain State Park is one of Maine’s premierhawk-watching sites on any southerly or southwesterlybreeze in early spring. Multi-use trails are productivefor common songbirds throughout summer.Wilson’s Snipedirections:From I-295, take Freeport Exit 22 and head west off the highway. Turn left andfollow the sign toward Bradbury Mountain State Park. After 4.5 miles, turn right ontoRoute 9 (Hallowell Road.) The park is 0.5 miles ahead on the left.MAMJJASND J F O MAMJJASND J F O 78

Map CMIDCOAST REGION19.map cBelfast3433Augusta39513217GardinerCamden31 andMaquoit Bay attracts shorebirds and waterfowl inmigration. Dabbling ducks take over as the tide rises,while diving ducks may be found in the deeper channelsat any tide. Check for wading birds in summer.directions:Proceed south on Maine Street 0.2 miles past the intersection with Pleasant Hill Roadto where Maine Street splits into Merepoint Road and Maquoit Road. Bear right at thesplit and follow Maquoit Road 1.9 miles to a small dirt parking lot at Wharton Point,which overlooks the bay at a good vantage point.1Boothbay2521 Bath2423M aqu oi t BayMAMJJASND J F O 29DamariscottaMatinicus272620MIDCOAST REGION28MonheganDeeply cut by rivers and bays whose tidal currents wind through hundredsof islands, this region harbors a mix of both freshwater and saltwaterbirds. Along this shore the boreal spruce forest extends to its southernmostlimit, providing nesting habitat for birds normally associated with higherlatitudes and altitudes.For more information on The Midcoast Region visitwww.mainesmidcoast.com20.The Coast al Stu di es C en t erThe Coastal Studies Center is run by Bowdoin Collegeand is located on a peninsula of Orrs Island, south ofBrunswick. Walking trails roam through 116 acres of forestsand fields, including several trails that offer extensiveocean views. In May, there is often opportunity to enjoyan influx of summer warblers before the winteringsea ducks have departed northward. June and July arepromising for many of Maine’s summer songbirds.directions:From Brunswick, take Route 123 (Harpswell Road) south 6.1 miles, turn left ontoMountain Road, proceed 2.7 miles and turn right onto Route 24 (Harpswell IslandRoad). Proceed another 2.6 miles and turn right on Bayview Road. The entrance is 0.8miles from the intersection and the parking lot is another 0.2 miles. From Cook’s Corneron Route 1, take Route 24 for 11.25 miles all the way to the right turn on Bayview Road.MAMJJASND J F O 921.Hamilton Audubon SanctuaryHamilton Audubon Sanctuary has a mile of trails throughopen meadows and mixed woodland along a peninsula inthe New Meadows River. Common songbirds are plentiful.The cove can be good for Common Eiders with young inearly summer and Snowy Egrets in late summer. At lowtide, check mud flats for shorebirds.directions:Take the New Meadows exit off Route 1 and turn left onto New Meadows Road, whichturns into Foster Point Road after the stop sign. The sanctuary is 4 miles from Route 1and 3 miles from the beginning of Foster Point Road.MAMJJASND J F O 22.Thorne Head PreserveThorne Head Preserve, under the protection of KennebecEstuary Land Trust, is rich in common warblers andvireos. Blackburnian Warblers are noteworthy. Thepaths are easy, providing level walking under a canopyof mature trees.directions:From downtown Bath, follow High Street north 2 miles to the end.MAMJJASND J F O 23.Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets. American Bitterns, GreenHerons and Black-crowned Night-Herons; and GreatEgrets turn up regularly. Saltmarsh and Nelson’s Sharptailed Sparrows are possible. Sandpipers and plovers stopduring migration. Before leaving the area, continue onRoute 209 to the end. Fort Popham has guarded theentrance to the Kennebec River since the U.S. Civil Warand provides another sheltered spot to scan for Longtailed Ducks, Buffleheads, goldeneyes, and terns.directions:From Bath, proceed south on Route 209 toward Phippsburg. At 11 miles, turn leftand continue following Route 209 to the park entrance at 15 miles.MAMJJASND J F O 24.Reid S t a t e Pa r kReid State Park provides outstanding birding in allseasons. It is ideal for wintering scoters, mergansers,grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, and Black Guillemots. KingEiders have turned up among the rafts of Common Eiders.Purple Sandpipers are common on the rocks at both endsof the beach. Exercise caution when Piping Plovers andLeast Terns are nesting in summer.directions:From Woolwich (on the east side of the Kennebec River from Bath) take Route 127south through Arrowsic and Georgetown 10.7 miles to the right turn toward the park.Follow to the gate.Popham Beach State ParkMAMJJASND J F O Popham Beach State Park is extraordinary year-round.In winter, expect Common and Red-throated Loons,eiders, scoters, grebes, mergansers, Buffleheads, andLong-tailed Ducks. Horned Larks and Snow Buntingsmay forage on the beach. Also look for Northern Shrikesand crossbills. In summer, Piping Plovers and LeastTerns sometimes breed. Common, Arctic, and RoseateTerns forage offshore. The salt marsh is habitat for Great10

25.L o b s t e r Co ve Me ado wLobster Cove Meadow in Boothbay is the mostproductive of several properties owned by the BoothbayRegion Land Trust. The combination of ATV trails andfootpaths winds through a mature softwood forest ofwhite pine and spruce, following the slope downwardthrough an open grassy meadow dotted with ancientapple trees, until reaching an extensive marsh. Twentyone warbler species have been observed on the property.Green Herons, Least Bitterns, Virginia Rails, and Sorashave been found in the marsh.directions:From the intersection of Routes 27 and 96 in Boothbay Harbor, take Route 96 for0.4 miles. Turn right onto Eastern Avenue for 0.1 miles. Look for a small parking loton the left at the trail entrance. The trail begins to the left of a private residence.27.E ast ern E gg RockEastern Egg Rock is an 11-acre island located six milesfrom New Harbor. Common, Arctic, and Roseate Terncolonies are also established on the island and it is one ofthe most reliable places to see Roseate Terns in Maine.The island is visited every day during puffin season byThe Hardy Boat, which is docked at New Harbor. Seewww.hardyboat.com or call 1-800-2-PUFFIN. Cap’nFish circles the island three times a week from BoothbayHarbor. See www.mainewhales.com or call 800-6330860. The Monhegan Boat Line in Port Clyde visits theisland five times a during the puffin season, mid-Junethrough August. See www.monheganboat.com/puffin.html or call 207-372-8848.MAMJJASND J F O MAMJJASND J F O 26.28.Pe m aquid P o in tPemaquid Point extends well into the Atlantic Ocean.From the lighthouse, Common Eiders and BlackGuille

This guide is abridged from The Official Guide to the Maine Birding Trail, published by Down East Books, 2009. The Official Guide contains hundreds of additional sites, maps, and tips for birding Maine in all seasons. Cover Photos: Snowy owl Biddeford Pool, Maine Available at www.downeastbooks.com